RALEIGH – Home health care was the hot topic at the General Assembly Wednesday.

More than 300 people from all across the state went door to door at the Legislative Building, urging state lawmakers not to cut funding for at-home personal care assistance. It helps people with disabilities by paying someone to come to their home and help with routine, basic daily activities like getting out of bed, bathing and getting dressed.

Registered nurses, homecare aides, patients and their families all pleaded with lawmakers Wednesday not to make cuts to the program.

Columbus County resident Larry Sheppard says it's the only way he and his wife have been able to still live at home.

"They help us out and take care of us and make sure everything is all right," said Larry Shepard, a home health care supporter and customer.

The personal care assistance program currently serves nearly 40,000 North Carolinians. But the Department of Health and Human Services says an independent assessment shows nearly half of the people getting assistance don't qualify for it, and 40 percent of the recipients get more help then they need. That costs the state tens of millions of dollars every year.

But advocates say cutting the program will end up costing the state even more money.

"It's beneficial to the taxpayer who has to foot this bill to keep this patient at home," Tim Rogers, CEO of the Association for Home and Hospice Care of N.C., said. "It costs the state of North Carolina about $700 to $750 a month, versus $1,800 or even $3,500 a month for skilled nursing care or care in an adult care facility."

The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services says under a proposed restructuring plan, the state would eliminate services for nearly 60 percent of those currently enrolled in the assistance program – that's more than 20,000 people.

But those who support the personal care services program say those type of cuts could also cost thousands of North Carolina jobs.